After having worked as a product designer for a few years, I've noticed there are essentially 2 types of projects you encounter:

1. Innovative projects. Projects that are breaking ground without a precedent, going from 0 to 1. This includes designing for breaking edge technology such as ML and AI products.

2. Optimization projects. Optimizing the user experience as much as possible, going from 1 to N. This includes operational initiatives to improve organizational productivity, such as design systems or internal tools.

I know many designers prefer one over the other—for example, if they prefer the first, they will usually stick to startups. Those who prefer stability and working with mature systems in place will opt for the later in big tech companies.

The sooner you can determine what kind of work is fulfilling for you, the sooner you can proactively seek those projects. If you're already interviewing, I recommend customizing your portfolio presentation based on the role you’re interviewing for.